The Department of Political Science offers students the opportunity to learn the critical thinking, analytical, and communicative skills needed for understanding how government and politics function in contemporary and historical contexts.

Dr. Sandra F. Joireman, Associate Provost for Faculty, Weinstein Chair of International Studies, and Professor of Political Science, will be a partner on a grant awarded by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for “Appraising Risk, Past and Present: Interrogating Historical Data to Enhance Understanding of Environmental Crises in the Indian Ocean World.”

Political Science professor Jennifer Erkulwater is the recipient of the 2017 Best Paper in Identity Politics Award from the annual Northeastern Political Science Association conference for her paper titled "The Social Security Act and the Origins of Political Identity among People with Disabilities, 1935-1950."

Political Science Feature Stories

Extra encouragementTwo Spiders — a mother and a daughter — saw a need in their community, asked how they could help, and then did.

amp; Leather Sneakers Bone Rag White Sneakers

Faculty and Students Research Kenyan Settlement SchemesPolitical science professor Sandra Joireman and Spatial Analysis Lab director Kim Browne traveled with three student researchers to Kenya, where they worked with the National Land Commission to digitally map Kenyan settlement schemes.Learn more.

People powerAndrea Simpson focuses on African-American politics in her research as a political science professor. During the spring semester, she taught a senior seminar focused on grassroots political and social movements.Read More

Yoo PresentationDaniel Yoo, '18, presented his research, Political Theory, Cities and Statesmen: Aristotelian Regime Inquiry as a Means to Political Justice, at the 2017 Midwest Political Science Association conference.

Carol PresentationBrenden Carol, '17, presented his research, Does it Matter Who Draws the Lines? A Look at Commissions to Combat Gerrymandering and Do They Make a Difference, at the 2017 Midwest Political Science Association conference.